Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-04-20
CUT DOWN TIE PRIOEs.

ANCW ehshs bhCAO 10 q SCA bdAuAy VI oh-
other railroad reaching Medicine Lodge
this year, il is to he hoped that the own
ers of vacant town lots will not make
any sudden increase in the prices they
ask for their property. The impression
is already out, that it is doing US a vast
injury; that city property here is held
too high, and that only men with deep
purses can afford to purchase. That
impression should not be allowed to
exist.
1t should be the aim of every citizen
to encourage immigration to this city,
and this can best be done by selling
property to those who will improve it
at reasonable prices. We would rath-
er see one actual settler come here and
buy lot and build on it, even a one
room house, than twenty spectators
who only buy lots to hold them for a
raise in prices.
Two years ago, it will be remember
ed, there was wonderful activity in
real estate. Men came here from Kan
sas City, Wichita, Wellington, Win
field and elsewhere and purchased hun
dreds Of lots, laid out additions and
there stopped and waited for raise.
Some of these spectators are waiting
yet, and will continue to wait unless
they instruct their agents to cut down
prices one-half.
The depot or Bechtel addition is a
sample. That entire tract OF. 100 acres
was purchased for $1,000 a little more
than two years ago. Since then the
railroad has used strip through it zoe
feet wide, and on the lots that were
laid off not exceeding dozen houses
have been built. And why? The lots
were held too high. True, the adjoin-
ing lots were as far beyond reason
but that is why the depot addition has
no more houses on it. The owners OF
the addition are not to be particularly
blamed, for they, being in Rome were
doing as the Romans did.
Stolp addition, Hartzell's addition
and Hammond's addition, all within
the corporate limits of this city, are
practically vacant because the lots
were too high for bona tide settlers, and
just high enough for spectators to buy
and hold for q raise.
Actually, it would have been better
for the city had the title to every loi
sold to speculator remained in the
original owner of the addition until
some one desired to purchase and I'm.
prove the lot.
We believe that an alleged "boom, >
such as Kiowa is now undergoing
would be an actual injury to this city
There, though they are selling and re.
selling lots and making great splut-
ter, we understand from reliable author.
ity, that practically no buildings are
being erected in Kiowa. Then, how
much better off is the town than il
there was not one transfer in month
What every town should hope for anC
encourage Is the permanent settler
the man who builds him q house
moves his family in and becomes q
citizen the man who spends money il
improving his property, in giving EN-
ployment to mechanics, and who viii
be consumer; who will assist il
making a market for the products o.
the farmers; who will help support tn,
merchants, and at the same time assis
in the work of building up the town.
And in building up the town, the sur
rounding country will also build up
Market gardens will prosper; the stock
man will find a ready market for hi
fat animals; the farmer will sell hi
surplus grain at a better advantage
and every body IN the country will hav,
the advantages of competition amoni
merchants that must exist in a larg,
city. Competition makes low prices
and it IS the life of trade.
So, property owners of Medicin,
Lodge, don't get crazy if we have an
other railroad; sell lots cheaper t,
those who will agree to build than t.
spectators, and this town will sooi
haye what we now so much need, a larg
er population.